Chamoli: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the closing ceremony of the three-day Tribal Congregation held in Chamoli district. He praised tribal culture and reiterated the government’s commitment to the community’s development.
A three-day Tribal Congregation program was organized by the tribal community in Birahi Bedu Bagad, Chamoli district. On the concluding day, the Chief Minister arrived in Pipalkoti by helicopter, from where he traveled by road to the venue. Organizers dressed in traditional attire gave the Chief Minister a grand welcome, performing the Pona dance to the beat of musical instruments.
The organizing committee presented several key demands to the Chief Minister, including the allocation of land for winter housing, the preservation of the land at Bhotia Padav Bedu Bagad for tribal interests, the installation of a statue dedicated to Gaura Devi at Bhotia Padav, and the construction of an environmentally friendly park.
The Chief Minister appeared emotional upon seeing the traditional costumes and cultural performances. In his address, the Chief Minister stated that Uttarakhand’s traditions and culture hold a unique identity in the world. He explained that the process of devolving Bhotia settlement land to tribal communities at various locations is underway, and the government will take a decision on this matter soon.
The Chief Minister stated that the Central and State governments have taken several historic steps for tribal development. He also alleged that previous Congress governments used the tribal community solely as a vote bank. He also stated that border villages are strategically extremely sensitive. Crores of rupees worth of projects are being implemented for their development, with special attention being paid to roads, education, and health facilities.
CM Dhami stated that under the Prime Minister’s Tribal Advanced Village Campaign, 128 villages in the state have been identified, where, along with employment, special focus is being placed on improved education and health. He added that the Prime Minister has increased the budget allocated for tribal communities by three times. Today, the tribal community is also benefiting from basic amenities.
